The Detroit Lions announced on Friday afternoon that they have signed free agent edge defender Payton Turner.
Turner was the New Orleans Saints’ first-round pick in 2021, selected 28th overall after a four-year college career at Houston. Obviously, things didn’t go as planned for Turner, who only played 31 games for the Saints over four years, and never starting a single contest for New Orleans.
Injuries were largely to blame for Turner’s lack of progression. He finished his rookie season on IR with
a shoulder injury, and missed nearly the entire 2023 season with a turf toe injury. He also missed the entire 2025 season—as a Dallas Cowboy—with a rib injury suffered prior to the season.
Injuries aside, Turner has still had a disappointing start to his career. In his final season with the Saints, he managed to play 16 games for New Orleans, but managed just 21 tackles, 2.0 sacks, four passes defended, and two forced fumbles. PFF graded him with a career-worst 54.0 mark that year.
That said, it’s easy to see why the Lions are interested. For one, he’ll come cheap. Last year, he signed one-year, $2.5 million contract and given his high injury risk, he’ll likely be even cheaper for Detroit this year. Secondly, he fits what the Lions like stylicially in their big defensive end. Turner is listed at 6-foot-6, 270 pounds, and he comes with plenty of athleticism. Finally, he fits their current trend of a young players with a chip on their shoulder. Turner just turned 27 earlier this year.
In short, he’s a younger Marcus Davenport.
He’ll join recently-signed DJ Wonnum to compete for a spot in the Lions’ overhauled defensive end room. The Lions have lost Al-Quadin Muhammad and Tyrus Wheat in free agency, while Davenport and Pat O’Connor remain unsigned.
We’ll see if the Lions continue to add competition to the defensive end room or if they’ll wait until April’s draft.
